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WEST GOSHEN TOWNSHIP A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of West Goshen Township was called to order by Chairman Dr. Robert S. White at 4:04 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11, 2002, at the West Goshen Township Administration Building. All members were present. Dr. White opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Dr. White opened the floor for public comment. No comments were made. Dr. White stated that Saturday, December 7, 2002 was the 61st Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He added that given the fact our country is now at war, he wished to affirm that West Goshen Township does remember the significance of this event. Dr. White said that on December 2, 2002, the West Goshen Board of Supervisors met with representatives from West Chester Borough and East Bradford Township to hear a presentation by West Chester University concerning their future plans for the school including expansion of the E. O. Bull Center, a parking garage and a temporary level parking area. He added that most of the plans are for the next three years and involve work in West Chester Borough and not West Goshen Township. He also said that a data diskette with the information on the future plans will be provided to the Township Manager, Sharon Lynn in January 2003, and will be available for the public to review. Mrs. Evelyn Baker, 900 Sheridan Drive, asked about the traffic congestion on High Street around the E. O. Bull Center and the future plans to handle the problem. Dr. White responded that a traffic study for the area must accompany the plans when they are submitted for approval and added that Tigue Road could be build as a tie in to other streets in the area. Mrs. Baker said this will not help the situation at High Street and Rosedale Avenue and could make it worse because of traffic turning from Tigue Road onto High Street. Dr. White stated that the Chester County Planning Commission has agreed to fund a study of Tigue Road and the Route 202 ramps if West Goshen Township and West Chester Borough consent to it. Mrs. Baker reiterated that this will still not address the traffic congestion in the area. On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the board unanimously approved authorizing the Chester County Planning Commission to initiate a feasibility study for Tigue Road and the Route 202 ramps. Dr. White stated that the municipal representatives did not take any action at the December 2, 2002 meeting. Ms. Lynn added that the information diskette has not been delivered by West Chester University to the Township yet, but the information will be made available to the public when it is in January 2003. On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved the Board of Supervisors minutes from November 13 and November 20, 2002. On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved the Treasurer's Report dated November 30, 2002 for the General Fund, the Sewer Revenue Fund, the Waste and Recycling Fund, and the Capital Reserve Fund, as well as the bills to be paid from the General Fund, the Sewer Fund, the Capital Reserve Fund, and the Waste and Recycling Fund. Chief Michael J. Carroll gave the Police Report for the month of November, 2002. Chief Carroll announced that Santa Claus will be arriving on Saturday, December 14, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. at the Community Park. Ralph Brown, Fire Marshal, gave the Fire Marshal Report for the month of November, 2002. Mr. Brown also gave the report for Good Fellowship Club of Chester County and for Goshen Fire Company. Richard Hicks, Building Official, gave the Building Inspection Activity Report for November, 2002. Ms. Kathryn DiPuppo, Community Program Director for Operation Heartbeat of Chester County and Michele Hertzog, a volunteer for Operation Heartbeat, presented a donation of two Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) to the West Goshen Police Department. Accepting on behalf of the department were Chief Carroll and Sgt. Donald A. Loane. Ms. DiPuppo said that Operation Heartbeat was founded three years ago to strengthen the 'Chain of Survival' after cardiac arrest and that an AED is the only reversible treatment for sudden cardiac arrest. Ms. Hertzog stated that two years ago her father, Mr. Michael Zarelli, went into cardiac arrest and was saved by Sgt. Loane when he performed CPR. She added that since that time her family has been dedicated to working with Operation Heartbeat. Chief Carroll said that 90% of the Township patrols will now have an AED available. Certificates of Recognition were presented by Mr. Robert Cifone, Chairman of the Park and Recreation Board, to the following sponsors of Park and Recreation events: Summer Concert Series – Silver Level Sponsors Summer Concert Series – Gold Level Sponsor Summer Concert Series – Platinum Level Sponsor Community Day Sponsor Certificate of Appreciation for Gift in Memory of David Lapin Prior to the consideration of Ordinance 13-02, Ms. Lynn stated that the Ordinance reflects the changes adopted on April 17, 2002, in Act 30 of 2002 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and signed into law by Governor Mark Schweiker. Each amendment involves pension issues contained in the Police Pension Plan. On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved Ordinance 13-02 amending the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14, Article 1, entitled West Goshen Township Police Pension Plan, by providing changes mandated by Act 30 of 2002. On motion by Mr. Meakim, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved the Waste and Recycling Fund Budget of $2,843,196 for the year 2003. On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved the Sewer Fund Budget of $6,968,990 for the year 2003. On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Dr. White, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 29-02, adopting the General Fund Budget of $11,520,053 for the year 2003. On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Ms. McIlvaine, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 30-02, establishing the Real Estate Tax at .085 mills for 2003. Prior to the consideration of Resolution 31-02 establishing Township policy regarding requests for Public Records, Ms. Lynn explained that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amended the Open Records law in June of 2002 and that the resolution is basically a policy complying with the changes which are mandated to be in place by December 26, 2002. She added that the resolution defines public record, the procedure to request a record and adds a form for the request after which the Township will have five days to produce the information. The fees to reproduce the records are also listed and the response time is explained. Mrs. Baker asked how many and what kind of requests for information the Township receives and Ms. Lynn replied that the Township receives two to six requests a year consisting of walk-in requests, requests from attorneys for Zoning Hearing Board applications, meeting minutes and such. She added that the resolution is not the result of any problems that have been encountered by the Township, rather that which the state is mandating. On motion by Ms. McIlvaine, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the Board unanimously approved Resolution 31-02 establishing Township policy regarding requests for Public Records. Dr. White opened the floor for public comment. George Asimos, Esquire, attorney for Goshen Terrace Apartments, stated that the complex owns an eight acre parcel of land that abuts Coppersmith Park that has been approved for the building of additional apartments but has not been developed. He stated that the apartments' owners would like to execute a conservation easement and are proposing that the holder of the easement be West Goshen Township since West Goshen Township would have an interest in keeping it as woodland next to the park. He added that documents had been prepared and submitted to Ronald C. Nagle, Esquire, West Goshen Township Solicitor, and that they would need to be executed this month in order to be valid in the 2002 tax year. Since this is the only Board of Supervisors meeting in December, he asked the Supervisors to pass a resolution to adopt the easement at this meeting to which Dr. White responded that the Supervisors have an unwavering policy that they do not sign papers until all other signatures have been obtained. Mr. Asimos stated that there are only two signing parties, West Goshen Township and representatives from Goshen Terrace Apartments who are prepared to sign once the Supervisors sign the documents. Ms. McIlvaine said the Supervisors would like to wait until all the paper work is completed and the proper signatures are obtained from all relevant parties. Mrs. Baker asked if an environmental study had been completed for the property in question and Mr. Asimos replied that the property is all woodland and that environmental studies have been completed. Mrs. Baker inquired as to why Goshen Terrace was seeking a conservation easement and not just donating the property to the Township outright and Mr. Asimos said they have not been asked to do so. Dr. White said the Board would prefer to pass a resolution and sign the documents on the same day once all signatures are obtained. He recommended that Goshen Terrace set up a land trust in order to obtain a tax write off this year. He added that the offer was being presented to the Board without an opportunity for review. Mr. Asimos said Goshen Terrace will come back before the Board in January with the proposal and Dr. White stated that since Ms. McIlvaine is the liaison for the parks, she would be the proper person to contact concerning this matter. Ms. Michelle Hertzog, Strasburg Court Apartments, stated that since the new Sunoco station was constructed on West Chester Pike next to the apartment complex there has been a severe drainage problem from water running onto their property from the station. She said the problem has been brought to the attention of Sunoco and West Goshen Township. She added that the water flooding their driveway will freeze creating a hazard and that the apartment management has lost equipment because the storage shed was flooded. She said Sunoco was supposed to start repairs the previous week but was prevented from doing so due to a snow storm. She asked that Sunoco be requested to put in writing what they intend to do to remedy this problem. She also said the apartment management is waiting for a test to be completed to measure light intensity surrounding the Sunoco station. Ms. Lynn advised Ms. Hertzog that Sunoco was to start the work on December 12 but will be unable to do so because of the heavy rain that has fallen. She added that Mr. Craig had observed the heavy ponding that had occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. this day and that the water is coming from the parking lot, with the bulk of it prevented from running off by the snow that is already on the ground. She said the Township has been working with Sunoco to solve the problem but Sunoco has delayed completing the work due to the inclement weather. Mr. Craig said the repair of the problem is a progressive process in that Sunoco has tried to solve it in the past without success so they must try something different. He added that Sunoco needs to re-landscape this location. Ms. Hertzog said that they had asked Sunoco to chop down the weeds on the property to which Mr. Craig replied that Sunoco had agreed to leave the weeds for absorption of the water. Ms. Adelaide Zarelli, 1201 E. Strasburg Road, Apartment C3, said that the grading of the Sunoco property is causing the problem and that in 30 years the maintenance shed on the apartment property had never flooded until now. She added that she doesn't know what to do to keep the apartment equipment dry and that she can't have de-icing salt delivered because it will get wet. She stated that Sunoco needs to dig a trench for the flow of the water. Ms. Lynn said that Mr. Craig has been in touch with Sunoco and had called again this date and left a message. She added that he will call the emergency number to which Ms. Zarelli expressed her appreciation for any help the Township was able to give them. Ms. Lynn said the Township has been working to solve the problem from the time the first telephone call was received reporting the situation and that Mr. Craig has followed up on all reports. She added that everything that could go wrong with this situation has gone wrong but that the Township is doing its due diligence to solve the problem. Mr. Meakim added that if Sunoco keeps its promise, the work will begin tomorrow. Mrs. Baker asked what enforcement is available to see that the work is done to which Ms. Lynn replied that Sunoco has agreed to do what needs to be done but conditions are not appropriate to do the work at the present time. Dr. White extended the Board of Supervisors' wishes for a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year to all Township residents. There being no further business, on motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Meakim, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Lynn, Township Manager |
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Copyright 2005, West Goshen Twp. |
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